ABC's Jon Karl stands by Rubio report

6/19/12 8:23 PM EDT

Karl kicked off today's news cycle with a report that Romney's campaign was not vetting Sen. Rubio for the vice presidency. In subsequent television interviews both Romney and Rubio skirted the question, but late this afternoon Romney announced to his travelling press that his campaign was, in fact, vetting the Florida senator.

"First, I stand by my reporting," Karl continues. "As of 9 a.m. this morning, Marco Rubio had not been asked by the Romney campaign to turn over any documents related to the vice presidential search. He had not been asked to fill out any questionnaires. If Romney was “thoroughly vetting” Rubio, he was doing it without Rubio’s knowledge."

"Now, however, Marco Rubio is the one candidate who the world knows definitively is being vetted."

Karl's full post, including intel from "several Republican sources" who say that Romney was pressured into reconsidering Rubio after an early dismissal, can be read here.